At dusk, the postman from the residential district delivered a letter to the mailbox outside the door.
After calling out toward the balcony, he hurriedly left. Residents here rarely linger for long.
On one hand, everyone knew that the saintess they revered, Lady Idledra, lived in this not-too-big, not-too-small villa.
Out of reverence, no one wished to disturb her.
On the other hand, before Hailey came to this world, Idledra could be said to have been kept under strict watch by the Holy See.
The slightest carelessness might let Idledra escape and cause chaos again.
To prevent Idledra from having any chance to run away, anyone approaching this villa would be closely monitored by the Holy See.
Even lingering here for a short while felt like being watched by more than a dozen pairs of eyes.
As for now, the Holy See believed that the powerless Hailey had become a bargaining chip to restrain Idledra, so this cage-like supervision was relaxed.
“Respected Saintess Idledra, in order to express the Imperial Family’s apology, we sincerely invite you to attend a banquet at the Imperial Palace…”
She had only frightened them that afternoon, saying that unless the Emperor personally delivered the invitation to her doorstep, there would be no forgiveness.
And in the evening, this urgent invitation flew in as if on wings?
The Imperial Family’s efficiency, indeed.
“What, what? Let me see too—”
“Your hair isn’t dry yet, don’t come over. I’m soaked!”
Idledra had just enjoyed a blissful hot bath in the bathroom.
She had originally wanted to drag Hailey in with her; she never wanted to miss any chance to be alone with Hailey.
But Hailey firmly pushed her into the bathroom alone, using exhaustion as an excuse, then lazily collapsed onto the soft bed, wishing she could sleep straight through until morning.
So who on earth would shout toward the balcony during evening rest time anyway? Were they expecting their saintess to sing back like in an animated movie?
Idledra’s hair still wasn’t fully dry.
Her damp long hair rested on Hailey’s shoulder, bringing a warm, moist sensation.
Idledra herself didn’t seem to realize it, her arm also draped over Hailey.
Her upper body still carried the heat from the bath, wrapped only in a long bathrobe.
The fragrant, water-beaded shoulders made even Hailey’s face feel shrouded in mist.
If it weren’t for someone breathing hot air nonstop by her ear, turning the tips of her ears bright red, then even before bathing herself, Hailey would have ended up covered in warm droplets.
“No, no, no—take it and read it already. Look what you’ve done, I’m soaked everywhere.”
A little unhappy, Hailey stuffed the invitation into Idledra’s hands. Covering her slightly flushed face, she grabbed a towel and ran toward the bathroom.
Only after immersing herself completely in the steaming pool did Hailey finally calm the messy emotions from being teased just now, though she kept muttering about that invitation from the Imperial Family.
Although she had even met the elusive Pope from the rumors, that refined middle-aged man—was he really the kind of pope from medieval stories who could control an entire nation?
Thinking of Issar’s recent appearance, and how awkward he looked being left outside the door, Hailey was more worried about whether that guy would take revenge than about doubting that he was truly the Pope.
“Hah… I hope that old man isn’t too petty. After all, I helped him act as the saintess for so long.”
After putting on her bathrobe and coming out, Hailey felt completely renewed by the hot water, thoroughly refreshed.
Returning to the bedroom, Hailey was smarter this time. There was no thunder today, no threats, and Idledra was full of energy.
She had no excuse today to demand sharing the blanket with her!
Looking at her own soft, warm bed—although since coming here, she seemed to have almost never slept in her own bedroom—
“……”
Hailey’s bedroom and Idledra’s bedroom were separated by only one wall, and their decorations and furnishings were quite similar.
Just imagining herself lying peacefully in bed, wrapped in warm covers, sleeping straight through until dawn, Hailey’s little expression couldn’t help but become smug.
It wasn’t until she crawled back into bed that she felt the weight pressing down on her—not soft, but smooth and slender.
“Heh heh, I already calculated that someone would definitely rush straight to the bedroom today. Good thing I set up an ambush here early…”
Idledra had somehow already been lying in wait here. When Hailey crawled into bed, she quietly stuck close.
With no extra barriers, only a thin shirt between them, the girl’s fair skin lightly pressed against Hailey’s hand.
“When Hailey isn’t by my side, my head feels dizzy, my limbs lose strength, and I feel like I’m going to die.”
“Get out already, it’s way too crowded here… You don’t look like a sick person at all.”
Don’t think Hailey didn’t know—back in the church garden, Idledra had already drawn who knows how much mana from her.
Forget about being weak; the mana in her body was enough for her to slip into Hailey’s bed without a sound.
Facing Hailey’s suspicious gaze, Idledra seemed to realize that acting cute wouldn’t solve the problem, so she could only let go.
Then, as if completely at home, she calmly leaned against Hailey right before her shocked eyes, even shifting her position a bit.
“Well then, Hailey can sleep now.”
“Hey… if I remember correctly, this is my room, right? Why aren’t you going back to sleep?”
“Hailey’s things are my things, and my things are Hailey’s things. Wherever Hailey is, I am there. Isn’t that right?”
“……Huh?”
“Alright, alright, Hailey, just let me squeeze in with you. Without Hailey I can’t sleep. I promise I won’t do anything.”
Believing that you won’t do anything would be easier than believing that I’m actually the reincarnation of the Pope…
“Hailey, do you remember the invitation from the Imperial Family? Do you want to go take a look…?”
“If we’re being honest, I’m actually quite interested, but no matter how you look at it, it’s a trap, right?”
According to the historical novels she had read, unless she could wield a Green Dragon Crescent Blade with terrifying prowess, otherwise—
Unless she could fight one against many, there was no way this would turn into ‘my lord is in danger’ becoming ‘your lord is in danger.’
“I know what Hailey is thinking. None of that matters. As long as Hailey likes it, that’s enough.
Anything that gets in the way deserves only to become stepping stones and a pedestal beneath my Hailey’s feet.”
Idledra gently reached out to touch Hailey’s cheek. Her indulgent smile made Hailey squirm uncomfortably all over.
“How could this woman say things like that with a straight face?”
It’s way too unfair… annoying.